The police have stepped up security in north Kerala, especially in Kozhikode and Kannur districts, in view of the impending results of the Lok Sabha elections on May 16.
The bomb detection and disposal squad carried out raids at Edacherry, Chombala and Onchiyam in the district on Tuesday. This was following Intelligence reports warning of stockpiling of weapons and bombs in the region. The raids will continue at Nadapuram and its adjoining areas on Wednesday. The combing operation will help pin down the potential trouble-makers, G.H. Yathish Chandra, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said.
Additional Director General of Police (North Zone) N. Shankar Reddy will hold two separate meetings of officers in Kozhikode and Kannur on Wednesday to review the security measures. An Intelligence input has cautioned that some areas are politically and communally sensitive in north Kerala, said sources.
Mr. Reddy held discussions with senior officers in Malappuram and Thrissur on Tuesday. A similar meeting was also held earlier in Kasaragod. “As of now, we have no plans to impose prohibitory orders. But all options are open,” he told The Hindu .
A fortnight ago, the police had clamped prohibitory orders under Section 78 (regulation to prevent violence) and Section 79 (regulation of public assemblies) of the Kerala Police Act in Vadakara. This was to prevent any untoward incidents on the second anniversary of the killing of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T.P. Chandrasekharan.
The ADGP said Circle Inspectors had been instructed to convene a meeting of leaders of political parties as part of the security arrangements. “We will mobilise the entire personnel on May 16 and May 17. At present, a good number of the force has been deployed for election duty outside the State. But we will draw personnel from the battalions,” Mr. Reddy said.
Patrolling has been intensified on the State and National Highways. Special squads would be stationed at different locations to check the movement of vehicles during night. The precautionary steps had been taken to avoid any untoward incidents, he said.
